A case examine on the consequences of open waste burning on air high quality in Northwestern Greenland used superior particulate monitoring to higher perceive the dangers of this sort of air pollution.
To raised perceive the air high quality dangers confronted by distant Arctic communities, a global group monitored aerial pollution at a neighborhood in Northwestern Greenland. Their findings, printed in Atmospheric Science Letters, reveal that open waste burning elevates the priority of well being dangers to the neighborhood.
The examine centered on Qaanaaq, a small village in Northwestern Greenland with a inhabitants of roughly 600. Throughout the summer time of 2022, the group performed the first-time measurement of particulate matter (PM2.5) within the ambient air there and recognized a rise in PM2.5 air pollution. PM2.5 refers to tiny particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, reminiscent of mud and smoke.
PM2.5 air pollution is carefully linked with extreme air air pollution and is especially dangerous to human well being; PM2.5 exposures are correlated with a spectrum of well being issues, together with respiratory illnesses reminiscent of bronchial asthma and bronchitis, cardiovascular ailments, and even untimely loss of life.
Monitoring PM2.5 ranges is vital for assessing air high quality and defending public well being. Nonetheless, in comparison with the mid-latitudes, the PM2.5 observations in high-latitude areas are comparatively left behind (i.e., fewer PM2.5 observations) by way of the SDG’s mission statement.
The analysis group used commercially accessible superior PM2.5 measurement methods for chilly areas, which was up to date from their previous research, to gather steady PM2.5 knowledge spanning the interval from July 20 to August 13, 2022. Their evaluation uncovered a number of situations of heightened PM2.5 ranges, significantly notable from August 8 onwards. These will increase have been attributed to native open waste burning actions, as evidenced by the seen black smoke emitted from the Qaanaaq dump website on the identical day with mixed knowledge analyses utilizing NASA’s re-analysis data and NOAA’s HYSPLIT model on-line simulations.
Though additional investigation indicated that pollution originating from sources exterior of the examine space might have additionally contributed some through the early levels of the examine, the analyses indicated these contributions have been minimal, highlighting the numerous impression of native air pollution sources on air high quality in Qaanaaq. The hourly imply PM2.5 concentrations didn’t attain alarming ranges through the measurement interval. Nonetheless, further evaluation based mostly on the NOAA HYSPLIT on-line dispersion simulations additionally implied that there have been possible particulate matter depositions from the open waste burning to the close by sea areas, together with Baffin Bay, suggesting vital analysis targets in environmental science sooner or later.
“That is the primary time we’ve studied PM2.5 in a small Arctic residential space of Northwestern Greenland the place we didn’t know the air high quality earlier than. We came upon how a lot air pollution will increase with PM2.5 throughout native open waste burning,” Yasunari mentioned. “Now, Qaanaaq makes use of an incinerator, stopping open waste burning. However, steady air high quality monitoring is essential as a result of air pollution doesn’t select timing or cease at borders.” He emphasizes the necessity for wholesome air for everybody, Arctic residents included, underlining steady monitoring as important for long-term well being, according to the SDGs.
The group behind the examine included researchers from Hokkaido College, the College of Tsukuba, Nagoya College, and NASA, and was led by Affiliate Professor & Distinguished Researcher Teppei J. Yasunari on the Arctic Analysis Middle.
